Five days after finals day in the Twenty20, a format in which teams barely
have time for Plan A, let alone more subtle contingencies, this magnificent
match continued to be a model for four-day play. With the fluctuations
maintained throughout another day, it remains difficult to nominate a winner
in a contest critical to both sides.

Needing another 39 to avoid the follow-on, Middlesex got there with eight down
after an hour in the morning but, with Ollie Rayner left unbeaten on 52 –
his first score above 32 for 15 months, happily supplemented later by a
five-wicket bag – they still